International Conference on Labour and ADR by DBRANLU, Sonepat and University of Nairobi [Hybrid; 13 Feb 2027]

The Centre for Labour Studies (CLS) at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University (DBRANLU), Sonepat, in collaboration with the Internship and Placement Cell and the University of Nairobi, holds an International Conference on “From Adjudication to Amicable Resolution: ADR’s Evolution in Labour Justice”. The conference is on 13 February 2027 in hybrid mode.

Traditional labour adjudication faces significant hurdles, including procedural complexities and systemic delays. There is a global shift toward Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, namely conciliation, mediation and arbitration, which offer speed, accessibility and collaborative outcomes. The conference aims to bridge the gap between foundational adjudication and the evolving landscape of amicable resolution, and includes a comparative track on labour justice in India and Africa developed with the University of Nairobi.

The brochure cover shows “13th February, 2026”, while its schedule and timeline give 13 February 2027.

• University of Nairobi: Kenya’s premier public research university and the largest institution of higher learning in the country, headquartered in Nairobi. Its origins trace back to 1956, it was established as an independent university in 1970, and it operates as a body corporate under the Universities Act 2012 of Kenya. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes in fields such as Law, Engineering, Health Sciences, Business and Agriculture.
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonepat: established by the State Government of Haryana in 2012 through State Legislature Act No. 15 of 2012. It operates eleven specialised research centres, three dedicated cells and a Legal Aid Clinic. Prof. (Dr.) Devinder Singh is the Hon’ble Vice Chancellor and Patron-in-Chief; Prof. (Dr.) Ashutosh Mishra, Registrar and Dean of Academic Affairs, is the Patron.
• Centre for Labour Studies: a research and academic centre focused on labour and employment laws in India, covering workers’ rights, industrial relations, social security and emerging forms of work. Dr. Balwinder Kaur, Director of the Centre, is the Organising Secretary. Kenneth Wyne, Advocate of the High Court, senior lecturer of Law at the University of Nairobi and Chartered Arbitrator, is the Distinguished Guest. The Centre is also organising a Panel Discussion on “Nuances of the Bangalore Water Supply Case and its Recent Judicial Discourse” in October 2026.

A pre-conference webinar is held on 2 November 2026 on “ADR Mechanisms in Labour and Employment Disputes: Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration in Industrial Relations and the Evolving Labour Justice System in Addressing Adjudicatory Challenges”. The brochure lists a separate registration category for participation in the pre-conference only.

Papers are invited under four tracks: foundational ADR in labour relations, emerging adjudicatory challenges, comparative and global perspectives, and policy and practice. The conference themes are:

• Theme 1: International Labour Standards and Labour Dispute Resolution
• Theme 2: Labour Disputes in the Digital and Platform Economy
• Theme 3: Comparative Labour Justice Systems
• Theme 4: Access to Justice and Vulnerable Workers
• Theme 5: Corporate Governance and Workplace Dispute Management
• Theme 6: Future Directions in Labour Dispute Resolution

The themes are only indicative and not exhaustive.

The brochure lists these sub-themes under the themes above:

• Artificial intelligence in labour dispute resolution
• Digital case management in labour tribunals
• Restorative justice in workplace conflicts
• Hybrid models of adjudication and ADR
• Policy reforms in labour justice systems
• Dispute resolution for informal and precarious workers
• Gender and equality in labour dispute settlement
• ADR in workplace harassment and discrimination cases
• Barriers to labour justice and dispute resolution
• Role of trade unions in labour dispute processes
• Corporate grievance redressal systems
• Industrial relations and dispute prevention strategies
• Corporate compliance with international labour standards
• Role of legal practitioners in labour ADR
• Labour governance in global supply chains
• Comparative labour dispute mechanisms in Asia and Africa
• Institutional design of labour courts and tribunals
• Role of international organisations in labour justice reforms
• Cross-border labour disputes and jurisdictional issues
• Regional approaches to labour dispute resolution
• Dispute resolution in gig and platform work
• Algorithmic management and workplace conflicts
• Online dispute resolution in employment relationships
• Jurisdictional challenges in cross-border digital labour disputes
• Technology-driven innovations in labour dispute settlement
• Role of the International Labour Organization in shaping labour dispute resolution systems
• Implementation of international labour standards in domestic dispute mechanisms
• Tripartism and social dialogue in labour conflict resolution
• Conciliation, mediation, and arbitration in labour governance
• Enforcement of labour dispute settlements and awards

The conference is open to international and domestic students, academicians, research scholars, legal practitioners, industry professionals, policymakers and representatives of civil society from across the country and abroad. Paper submissions are invited from students, academicians and professionals.

The abstract form asks each author to state a participation category: Student, Research Scholar, Academician, Practitioner or Professional, or International Participant.

• Pre-conference webinar: 2 November 2026
• Abstract submission: 10 November 2026
• Full paper submission: 10 January 2027
• International conference: 13 February 2027

• Authors selected on the basis of their abstracts submit a full-length paper of a maximum of 5000 words, exclusive of footnotes.
• Each final paper must include an abstract of not more than 300 words and five keywords capturing the central themes of the paper.
• The paper should set out the research problem or question, the methodology or approach, a detailed discussion of arguments, analysis and findings supported by relevant authorities, case laws and literature, and a conclusion that summarises the key takeaways and, where appropriate, offers recommendations.
• Papers that show originality, analytical depth, doctrinal or empirical rigour and contemporary relevance on issues concerning labour and employment law are given preference.
• Co-authorship is permitted, limited to a maximum of two authors.
• Manuscripts must be anonymised: no author name, institutional affiliation or contact information.
• Every manuscript undergoes a mandatory plagiarism and AI check. Submissions exceeding 15% similarity, including AI-generated content, are automatically rejected.
• Submissions must be in Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx) only. PDF submissions are not accepted.
• Authors are solely responsible for the accuracy of facts, references and citations.

• Title: Times New Roman, 14, line spacing 1.5.
• Main body: Times New Roman, 12, line spacing 1.5.
• Section headings: Times New Roman, 12, line spacing 1.5.
• Footnotes: Times New Roman, 10, line spacing 1.5.
• Header and footer: Times New Roman, 10, centered.
• Citation style: references strictly as footnotes. Endnotes and in-text citations are not permitted.

The brochure lists these fee amounts: Rs. 500/- or $6; Rs. 800/- or $8; Rs. 1500/- or $16; Rs. 2000/- or $21; Rs. 3000/- or $31. The brochure’s categories are students, research scholars, faculty members of the host institution, participation in the pre-conference only, and industry professionals, academicians and professionals, with the dollar rates labelled for the University of Nairobi, international research scholars, international students and international participants. The layout does not pair each amount with a category clearly, so check the brochure for the rate that applies to you.

Members of the Organising Committee are exempt from paying the registration fee.

Submit the abstract through the Google Form for the conference. The form asks for the author’s full name, email address, mobile number, institution or organisation, designation or course and year, and city and country, followed by the same details for any co-author, and the participation category. If there is more than one co-author, use a serial number.

Selected papers will be considered for publication, and key recommendations from the conference will be compiled into a policy brief. The brochure does not name the publication outlet. Participants also get a chance to present their work, receive feedback and build professional networks.

For questions, email labourstudies@dbranlu.ac.in or call +91 77280 41928 (working hours 2:30 AM to 1:30 PM UTC).